Cardinal Vidal raring to go home

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal is now in stable condition and already wants to go home after suffering a mild stroke, but attending physicians have yet to give him clearance.

“Just lately, I had lunch with him unya this morning we had Mass. Unya okay na siya. He has fully recovered and he even wants to go home na. Only his doctors say nga dili lang una for now,” said Fr. Joseph “Jojo” Aquino, Vidal’s secretary, in an interview yesterday at the Perpetual Succour Hospital, where the cardinal is currently admitted.

Aquino said that there are still tests to be conducted. It will be the third time that the cardinal will undergo a CT scan.

“Wa pa siya gipagawas pod kay naa pa may further nga test. This is the third time nga mo-undergo siya ug CT scan aron gyud pag-clear sa tanan so that they (doctors) can decide tomorrow or the next day on when na pwede makagawas si cardinal, karun dili pa gyud sila ka-decide kung pagawason na ba nila si Eminence,” said Aquino.

Aquino said that the CT scan is a must according to the doctors since what happened to Vidal has to do something with the brain. He said that the initial and second time was all clear but there was that transient ischemic attack (TIA) finding.

“Adunay finding on TIA, but walay significant damage nga nahitabo pero naa ang symptoms and timailhan nga mao na ang nahitabo. In a layman’s term, so far, wala siya nakahimo ug dakong damage kang cardinal. Layo na siya sa peligro,” Aquino said.

He also added that the doctors are positive that Vidal is on the road to recovery. He explained that the oxygen mask he has to wear twice daily is meant to aid his breathing and so there will be enough oxygen to his brain.

Aquino also stressed that Vidal’s room is still in an ICU set-up but some of the equipment are no longer there.

“ICU set-up gihapon ang room because he is still closely monitored, pero wala na ang ubang equipment. Karong adlawa, wala namay dextrose, wala nay naka-attach sa lawas ni cardinal. From time to time naa lang gihapon monitor sa iyang BP ug uban pa,” Aquino said. Vidal can already eat and walk on his own as well.

Vidal, however, was advised not to travel by plane or have long travel within a month’s period.

“Ingon iyang mga doctor, they are unanimous in saying nga hinay hinayan una iyang mga travel. Giingnan siya nga for at least a month kuhaon lang sa iyang schedule. Mao nay gi-suggest sa mga doctors for now, for at least a month for him to fully recover, considering his condition, his physical condition and his age, dili na ingun ana ka paspas ang recovery, mao nay sulti sa doctor sa iyaha,” Aquino said.

Aquino, on the other hand, was optimistic that Vidal will follow the doctor’s advice.

“Always si Eminence submissive man gyud na siya kung unsay ingon sa doctor kay sila mas nasayod sa iyang sitwasyon, dili man gyud na mosupak si cardinal, motuman man na siya kung unsa ang sulti sa doctor,” said Aquino, “pwede ra siya momisa, pero apil na ngadto sa restrictions nga dili siya pwede momisa sa layo. Before siya ma-discharge, I have to talk sa iyang doctor kung unsay pwede ra. Kay dili pa gyud siya pwede ug long trip,” Aquino added. – (FREEMAN)